Alzheimer's gene mapped, raises hope for new drugs

ZURICH, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Swiss drugs giant Roche Holding AG and Icelandic biotech company deCODE genetics said on Friday they had succeeded in mapping a gene linked to Alzheimer's disease.

The discovery provided a beacon of hope in the battle against the degenerative brain condition, but industry analysts warned that developing therapies as a result of such discoveries could take at least a decade.

Roche called the latest discovery a "critical milestone on the way to identifying a gene and its disease-linked variants."

It also said in a statement it planned to use the findings to uncover and develop new diagnostic methods and treatments.

Shares in deCODE, which is tapping Iceland's unique genetic heritage to unravel the genetic basis of disease, surged 20 percent in European trade following the news.

"It's more validation that this company can do what it claims to do in identifying novel genes," said Andrew Baum, industry analyst at investment bank Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, which brought deCODE to market last month.

The location of the latest gene was narrowed down through a study involving 1,100 Icelandic patients and their relatives.

The new gene find was a novel one, independent of another gene associated with common Alzheimer's discovered in the 1990s, ApoE.

Analysts said developing deCODE's genetic discoveries into marketable products would be a long haul. The first diagnostics were probably five to seven years away and therapeutics would take 10 years or more.

Roche and deCODE announced the co-operation in 1998. The five-year agreement, which also gives Roche an equity stake, involves a total of 11 or 12 diseases in four key areas: inflammatory, metabolic, neuro-psychiatric and vascular illnesses.

"We are pleased to say that it looks like almost every one of these may make important advances. There will be other announcements before the end of the year," said Klaus Lindpaintner, director of Roche's genetics activities.